Zhong Xinyi brought Ji Zizhao back to the Zhong family, arriving outside the Fourth Prince's study.
Tang Di, who was guarding the door, was startled when he saw Ji Zizhao. He thought he was mistaken, but upon hearing Ji Zizhao state that he was looking for the Fourth Prince, Tang Di quickly ushered him inside.
Inside the study, the Seventh Prince was jumping around enthusiastically. He stopped abruptly when he saw Ji Zizhao enter.
Xie Jinglan was also somewhat surprised to see Ji Zizhao arrive.
Ji Zizhao spoke first, "I will not disturb the two princes' discussion. I will sit and wait."
Xie Jinglan met Ji Zizhao's gaze and smiled faintly, then turned to look at his agitated younger brother.
It was a foregone conclusion that the old General Zhong would lead troops to Tonglin.
Even if the court had no money now, it didn't mean they would never have any.
The old General Zhong was once a figure who could stand on equal footing with the old Master Ji. Even though he was old, his sword was still sharp. With him leading the troops, anyone who followed would seem to be picking up merits for free.
Empress Zhong naturally understood the implications. So, she decided to corner Xie Jingqi in the palace today and make him accompany the old General Zhong on the campaign.
From Empress Zhong's perspective, it was better for her father to have someone trustworthy lead the troops than others. Little Seven could also gain some merits, achieving two goals with one action.
However, this supposedly good arrangement caused Xie Jingqi to jump in protest.
He had previously endured the unpleasant task of serving in the參將署 (Canzhang Shu - a military office) only because he had made a deal with his father, the Emperor.
His lifelong dream was to be a salted fish, and he hated being pushed to the front lines.
Being a salted fish only required a mouth to eat; what was the point of merits?
Empress Zhong was so angered by her uncooperative son that she almost had a heart attack. She directly dragged him to the Fourth Prince.
Just moments ago, Xie Jingqi had been complaining. Now, seeing Ji Zizhao enter, he calmed down a little.
After all, the profound impact of Ji Zizhao's ruthless methods left too deep a shadow on him. Even if he were a wild donkey, he wouldn't dare to be too unruly in front of Ji Zizhao.
Xie Jinglan looked at his younger brother, who was clearly lacking confidence in front of Ji Zizhao, and asked, "You really don't want to go to Tonglin?"
Xie Jingqi was about to vent his dissatisfaction righteously, but upon glancing at Ji Zizhao sitting nearby, he slumped into a chair and said to his fourth brother, "Others are going to war, why should I follow? Am I just going to be a burden? I think I'm more suited to staying in the imperial city. Don't you think so, Fourth Brother?"
Ji Zizhao was surprised that after such a long time, the Seventh Prince was still the same silly husky. He felt sympathetic towards those who had worked hard behind the scenes for him.
Looking at the seemingly useless Seventh Prince, Ji Zizhao felt his palms tingle.
However, the Fourth Prince said, "It's not impossible to stay in the imperial city. Ultimately, it's your own wish, and Fourth Brother and Mother can't force you."
Xie Jingqi felt relieved upon hearing this. "Fourth Brother still cares about me."
Xie Jinglan cast a casual glance at his brother, who had achieved his wish. "Then this excellent opportunity will have to be given to our Fifth Brother."
Xie Jingqi had been at odds with the Fifth Prince since childhood.
Upon hearing his fourth brother's words, he was like a sheepdog spotting a flock of sheep; his blood instantly surged.
"Others are going to the front lines to fight, why should a good-for-nothing like him go?"
"Naturally, he's going to gain merits. I heard that Consort Xi secretly exerted a lot of effort to get Fifth Brother to go to Tonglin. Once Fifth Brother returns victorious, Consort Xi will have the capital to show off to Mother." "Fourth Brother, do you mean that Mother wants me to go to Tonglin to compete with Consort Xi?"
"How can they be compared? Has Mother ever forced anything on you since you were little? This time, she wants you to go is genuinely because she wants you to succeed. Since you don't want to go, I will personally intercede with Mother on your behalf. Little Seven, don't worry, even if Mother is sad and angry, Fourth Brother will take the brunt of it." Xie Jinglan sighed heavily and closed the map of Tonglin in his hand with a look of helplessness.
Xie Jingqi: "..."
Although his wish had been granted, why couldn't he feel happy?
Looking at his fourth brother's distressed expression, Xie Jingqi felt even more bothered.
Yes, with his fourth brother taking the blows for him, how could he be happy? Thinking of how Consort Xi would boast to his mother after Xie Jingzhou's victory, Xie Jingqi felt even more vexed.
He had never intended for his dream of being a salted fish to be built upon the suffering of others.
After much thought, Xie Jingqi quietly asked, "Fourth Brother, how long do you think this war will last?"
Xie Jinglan analyzed the situation seriously and then replied, "Excluding travel time, at most two months."
Xie Jingqi: "..."
Two months. It didn't seem that long.
Seeing his foolish brother wavering, Xie Jinglan didn't forget to press his advantage and added another blow, "So, after a few months, Fifth Brother will be a man covered in merits. Then, you'll have to show him some respect in the參將署. After all, Fifth Brother will be a hero of Yulin."
The thought of having to show respect to Xie Jingzhou made Xie Jingqi's heart race.
That guy was already prone to backstabbing. His greatest joy was a head-on confrontation, and now even that happiness was to be stripped away?
No, wouldn't that mean he would truly live like a salted fish?
A salted fish on a chopping board!
"It's just a few months, I can endure it." Xie Jingqi began to change his tune.
"If it's truly difficult, then forget it. Fourth Brother and Mother don't want to see you wronged." Xie Jinglan's expression was calm.
"Wronged? Not at all. Fourth Brother, think about it, having merits in my hands is better than others having them. Besides, the Zhong family is Mother's maternal family. How can it be right for our own family members to be on the battlefield while others reap the rewards?" Xie Jingqi, who had refused to agree just moments ago, was now trying to counsel his own fourth brother.
Xie Jinglan seemed to find it very reasonable. "Fourth Brother is very pleased that you can think this way."
Xie Jingqi raised his eyebrows proudly, "Of course, who do you think I am?"
Ji Zizhao: "..."
He was stunned.
With just a few words, the unruly husky had been pacified.
The Fourth Prince was not only skilled at calculating but even more so at deceiving people.
Looking at the Seventh Prince, who was still smug and looked like he had struck a great bargain, Ji Zizhao felt utterly exhausted.
He had been tricked without realizing it, and yet he was still beaming with pride...
It was truly a rare sight.
As Ji Zizhao was secretly smiling, he was caught red-handed by Xie Jinglan.
Their eyes met, and Xie Jinglan offered a helpless, faint smile.
Recently, the court had been unstable. Consort Xi's influence had secretly extended into the court, and many ministers had succumbed to temptation and become part of the Fifth Prince's faction.
If the Fifth Prince were allowed to gain further merits by going to Tonglin, he would become a formidable threat.
Fortunately, Little Seven agreed to go to Tonglin; otherwise, it would have been truly troublesome.